Machihe



H. M. HILL.

MOTION PICTURE PROJIECTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 24, I916.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVIENTORP ATTORNEY.

H. M. HILL.

MOTION PICTURE PROJECTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 24, I916.

I 1 15,224. Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR=- fla ATTORNEY MOTION PICTURE PROJECTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 24,1JI6.

Ill!IIII OIIIOIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIIII latont odSept. 9, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR-'- ATTORNEY;

H. M. HILL. MOTION PICTURE PROJECTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILEYD OCT. 24, I916.

Patented Sept. 9, 1912).

4 SIIEETS-SHEET 4- ATTORNEY.

INVENTOR= -Y 7% UNITED sm'r us PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY 11.3111-15, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOUIRl.

MOTION-PICTURE-PROJECTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

Application filed October 24, 1916. Serial No. 127,470.

provements in Motion- Picture Projecting 'syuchronism therewith at all speeds.

Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in.

motion picture projecting machines and relates more particularly to the means for advancing and controlling the position of the film.

Que of the main objects is to provide apparatus arranged to impart a positive intermittent traveling motion to a film. without danger of vibration of the film while at rest, so as to insure the production of a perfect picture, the film being fed equal distances without the slightest, variation and positively locked in the position of rest.

Ii. "further, object is to provide an independent film feeding mechanism separate from the takeup winding means and yet controlled thereby so as. to he maintained in In this manner I am enabled to produce a rapid active movement of the film in an even manner and with the avoidance of jerking, thereby preventin any sudden or undue strains upon the ii m. I am enabled to attain these objects by providing independent electromagnetic means for advancing the film and for holding it locked in the position. of rest or exposure.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a maohineeinbodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail of the shaft-coupler employed between the main driving-gear and the driving-gear of the take-up reel; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the motor and lockingmechanism in side elevation.

As shown in the drawings, the filmfeedlug mechanism comprises the usual sprockets 3 whose teeth 3 engage the marginal perforations ofthe film 5. the sprockets 'lo eifig mounted upon the shaft (3 which carries the projections or segments 8 constituting the armature of the electric motor 10. The motor is of a wellknown type in which i the yoke frame 12 carries the field magnets 14. having pole pieces 15 surrounding the at l mature and rovided with i'ield wiiidings 16 which may o energized successively to produce the rotation of the ar nature.

The locking niephanisiu which positively holds the filni during the period rest or .exposure comprises a disk 18 carried by a shaft fl and provided with a plurality of oppositely disposed pairs of notches 19 which are engaged successively by pins 20" carried at the ends of bell-crank levers 21 EIVOllQ-Cl at 23. These levers are connected y a spring 28 which normally forces them toward each other so that the pins 20 will engage the notches 19 to prevent the shaft .6 and the film-feeding mechanism carried thereby from rotation. The lever arms 521 are forced apart to withdraw the pins 20 from the notches 19 when the shorter arms 21 are attracted and drawn upwardly by the electro-niagnet, to permit the motor to rotate the armature. It is to be understood that the armatureis provided with an appropriate number of segments or projections to produce a torque or turning movement when the field windings are successo sively energized. as is well known, without further description.

The take-up reel '30 may he,operated by suitable power mechanism or mainly as I have indicated for purposes of illustration. ,As 1 have shown in Fig. 2 the drive shaft 32 may be operated by means of a hand:

-crank 34 and carries a gear which meshes with a pinion 36 on. the shaft 38. Power is transmitted from the shaft 38 to the shaft to 31 of the reel 30 through the pairs of hovelgears 39, 40, and ll, 42 and the intermediate shaft 43. In order to provide for a slip or variation in the relative movement of the reel shaft 31 in proportion to the amount of 96 film wound thereon, I'separate the intermediate shaft into the parts -13 and 43' which are connected by means of a slipcluteh or coupler, shown in detail in Fig. 4.

This coupler comprises a housing or shell 45 having" a collar l6 fined to the shaft 43' and sleeves 47, 4-H within the housing mount ed upon the respective shaft members and a coiled spring" 4:) su roui'uling said Sleeves and hearing; at opposlf'e cnls against the cap 45 of the housing and a flange on the sleeve 48 respectively, thereby constituting an elastic connection between the shaft memheis. The cap 45 is fixedly mounted on the shell s5." The sleeve 48 is loosely 11o in I amass mounted on the shaft. 143*: the sleeve 47 he ing fix niy mounted on the Shaft 43 driven by the {amulet established through the pressure of the terminals of the spring againsi the inner iaccs of the SliiZ-ll and the cap i5. In order that the 1:0 a- (i011 of the parts may be rendered more uniform, i provide a halanoe-Whesl 50 on ilie shaft 38. 7

As previously stated, the iilm feQcling mechanism which is electro-magnetically mtuailed, controlled by a, commutating device carried by the opeuii-ing mechanism of the take-up reel so that ii; synchronously therewith at all this purpose I have illustrated in a oonveuticnal manner a coimuuiatinp; device compulsing rings 52 mounted upon the outer end of the shaft 3S and provided in the usual manner with conducting and, insulating peripheral portions adapted to cooperate with pairs of brushes 53 and} 54%, 54 hearing thereon to control the cirduitconucctions from a suit-able source of electric power to the motor field coils so that they will be cnei-gizcd successively to produce relation of the film-feeding mechanism at the propel intervals and simultaneously energizing the magnet 27/ to release locking; pins 20 from the notches of the locking disk 18 as will he uncleistoo l by engineers and those familiar with the ordinary commutaiing mechanism connected with cleciairic motors oi this type. i

The advantages which are derived from the use 0% cleave-magnetic mea ns for adivancing the film and holding it positively in loclicdposition (lining the period of rest or exposure will be appreciated by those who are familiar with the in'zquileinents of filmconti'olling mechanism..lnasmuch as the electrically actuated mechanism hperates in stantly upon the closing of the contacts at; the commntating clevice the locking pins 21] Will be instantly wil'hdz'a. ii from the notches l9 and at same instant fiolri of the motor which was simultaneously enci'gizcd Will excrl; a torque upon. the adjacent m niature segments to produce a rotation of the sprockets If desirable, the commutator contacts may be so arrai'igecl as to energize the successive field coils just pliOl. to the actuation of the magnet 27 which releases the locking pins 21, thereby establishing; the tow no just prior to the urn locking of the filIii-feeding shaft. It would be apparent to those famillar with electrical apparatus that the film will be moved instantly from one position of rest to the next position in. which the subsequent pose of the picture is exhibited, leaving each picture exhibitcd for the maximum of time and com sun'iing a minimum of time in removing a picture and substituting the subse ucnt one; but at the same time I am enable to adapt will operate siou, In fact, it is desired, under: oomlitums to cause a momentary lrllltllfil.

coloration of the moving parts other? illlll' produced by the sudden movem the armature from a period of rose prodcterminc il'e character of the iuii torque and. ace lien by [)IOQOItiOHfi lff the magnetic and electrical clcuienizs of motor in a iuai'mei- W811 understood h gineci s.

By lie desciilical means the successivo periodic movements of the film may be c trolled with accuracy and. the i'iii'!"ia 5 and movement, so timed Of a shutter is dispensed with, sous noting the loss of illumination and well-known disadvantages incident, lo use'oi the shuticr. The adaptasion of gro-magnciic means for she actuatiim of 52in: film-feeding mechanism not only simpliiics the constructiouof the driving niec iani i'endering it less liable to get out of m i but also provides for a moi'csensitive 1 accurate control the movon'ienbs of ii,- iihn i l have described in detail the particular m8 3 71'iS31Q illussratcci in the accompanyin showings for purpose of clea1"ly clisclos-- ing an enihoc D1'I3Ilt 0f my invention, loc is a lment t l mvarlous changes and ..o :hficatim g nay be, mam ghei'cin Witlillil the scope oi? my inventionw Having thus described my invention, whaiu I claim as new and dcsirclo have soc m a motion picture ro M g spi'ockci; a she; sa d. sprouiot; an armature m sun'p shai". romaguetie n parting stcp-oj -sizep rotation izo as sure.

53, in a mo T! pictui'c projcuing a filnnsnga mgsprockets; a shaft said sprocl Lh; an immature mounieifl on shaft; and a series of clcctro-maqiiots ranged. to in'ipai's step-bysiep relation said armature.

g t exposure and commutating means for simultaneously controlling the operation of said actuating device and said locking device.

5. In a motion picture projecting machine, a filmc-engaging-sprocket; a shaft carrying said sprocket; an armature mounted on said shaft; electro-magnetic means for imparting step-by-step rotation to said armature, in combination with a take-up reel, a shaft carrying said reel, and suitablemeans connecting saidsprocket-carrying shaft and said reel-carrying shaft :to secure synchronous operation of said shafts at varying speeds. I

6. In a motion picture projecting machine, a film-engaging sprocket; a shaft carrying said sprocket; an'armature mounted on said shaft; a series of electro-magnets arranged to impart step loy-step rotation to said armature, in combination with a take-up reel, a shaft carrying said reel, and suitable means connecting said sprocket-carrying shaft and said reel-carrying shaft to secure synchronous operation of said shafts at varying speeds.

7. In a motion picture projecting machine,

a film-engaging sprocket; a shaft carrying said sprocket; an armature mounted on said shaft; elect fli 'niagnetic means for impartmg step-by-step rotation to said armature;

actuatlng said device, an electrically controlled locking device for positively holding said mechanism during periods of rest or exposure and commutating means for simul taneously controlling the operation of said actuating device and said locking device, in combination with a take-up reel, a shaft carrying said reel, and suitable means connecting said sprocket-carrying shaft and said reel-carrying shaft to secure synchronous operation of said shafts at varying speeds.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

HARRY M. HILL. 

